1. DLP Flash Christmas Competition + Writing Marathon 2024!

    Competition topic: Magical New Year!

    Marathon goal? Crank out words!

    Check the marathon thread or competition thread for details.

    Dismiss Notice
  2. Hi there, Guest

    Only registered users can really experience what DLP has to offer. Many forums are only accessible if you have an account. Why don't you register?
    Dismiss Notice
  3. Introducing for your Perusing Pleasure

    New Thread Thursday
    +
    Shit Post Sunday

    READ ME
    Dismiss Notice

What is Magical Power in the Dresdenverse?

Discussion in 'Fanfic Discussion' started by Skeletaure, Oct 29, 2008.

  1. Alratan

    Alratan First Year

    Joined:
    May 18, 2008
    Messages:
    30
    The ghost Nightmare in Grave Peril didn't steal some of Harry's power, it consumed part of Harry's soul, and with it some of his ability.
     
  2. Grautry

    Grautry First Year

    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2007
    Messages:
    44
    As Butcher explained once on his forums, magic in Dresdenverse is just like any other skill or any other ability. It's a combination of your inborn talent - meaning how good your genes are for that particular ability - and how much time did you spend on practice.

    White Council Wizards are the olympic athletes, Mozarts and Einsteins of magic. They're a combination of great genes for magic with incredible amounts of practice.

    So yeah, a "raw magical power" or "brute strength" of magic exists, in the form of genes. Whether that "magical power" is a tangible metaphysical force is hard to say, however what matters is that magic in Dresdenverse is more than just skill.
     
  3. Samuel Black

    Samuel Black Chief Warlock

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2007
    Messages:
    1,505
    Yeah, like I said, I don't really remember exactly what happened.
     
  4. Tehan

    Tehan Avatar of Khorne DLP Supporter

    Joined:
    May 22, 2007
    Messages:
    3,742
    You're trying to use logic to define magic. What the fuck is wrong with you all?
     
  5. Antivash

    Antivash Until we meet again... DLP Supporter Retired Staff

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2005
    Messages:
    6,957
    Location:
    Ghost Planet
    I agree with several of the thoughts Taure points out, but only to an extent. I agree, first of all that it's a curious thing, with a number of facets contributing to it.


    Which leads me to agree with the sentiment that it is derived from a great many sources. That we know of, from within the practitioner themselves, their surroundings, emotions, life and death, people, and even celestial events and happenings.


    The first point I find myself wanting to point out my disagreement upon is this;



    I disagree whole heartedly on this point. While true exhaustion of the body occurs with over-use of magic and can be ignored to perform further acts, I don't think at all this means magic is limitless. Rather the opposite. Also, the first law that he doesn't take into consideration is the Law of Conservation of Energy:



    Taure's example is Lara and Dresden in White Night. Lets use that for an example.


    From what we can tell, Dresden's own personal supply of magic has be exhausted for the time being, until it has a chance to “recover” or “recharge”, but Dresden creates his shield, anyway. Assuming that I am correct and magic has a finite limit that varies, Dresden has exhausted his supply for the time, and turns to Lara.


    Which is again where Taure and I agree. But on different sides of the argument. Dresden neither uses his own, or creates more “magic” or “energy” but rather converts Lara's emotions and transfers them unto himself to perform the feat.


    I would be inclined to agree with Taure, where a further example not present in the form of the Beckitts and Victor Sells. Sells converts power form the Beckitts' emotions and uses them to call storms to drawl upon, as well as summon demons and other such uses.



    To this part of the argument, I once more agree, which falls under the category of “the practitioner themselves”. Every person in the world has a different personality, and while you may find similar people, they're still different on a whole. A willingness to cause harm to get to their ends may find aggressive magics more their forte, while someone like the Gatekeeper would find it more taxing, but not necessarily more difficult or impossible to use.


    We also know that non-practitioners still have an innate talent, in the example of the Alphas. None have shown any potential for learning magic, but they still have some potential to influence change on themselves in the form of shape-shifting. And again, notably different, are the Sidhe.
     
  6. Skeletaure

    Skeletaure Magical Core Enthusiast ~ Prestige ~ DLP Supporter

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2006
    Messages:
    2,812
    Location:
    United Kingdom
    High Score:
    13,152
    There are two different ways of thinking of magic in most fantasy:

    1. A force which is innately mysterious and lacking a single rational explanation, though patterns can often be found. This is like HP magic.

    2. Magic as a rational force of nature like any other, consistent and abiding by a set of rules. Dresden magic appears to be this kind, by all indications.

    Either one is open to discussion, I think, but number 2 even more so than number one.

    @What Vash said: Nothing in there I can disagree with.
     
  7. Koalas

    Koalas First Year ~ Prestige ~ DLP Supporter

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2007
    Messages:
    46
    Location:
    Halifax
    High Score:
    2024
    From what I remember from White Night, Harry had Lara kiss him, which inflamed his sex drive, so Harry experienced need and lust, which he converted to magic to create his shield. I don't think he did any drawing of strength from Lara.

    As for the Beckitts, while lust is used to power Victor's spells, I'm concerned about how 'pure' an example this would be. When Victor's wife participated she recounted to Dresden how, for a brief while, she forgot everything except for sex. This doesn't sound like a woman concerned for her kids and her husbands sanity. Sounds more like a little mind mojo to make sure nothing goes wrong with Victor's spell.
     
  8. Kthr

    Kthr Unspeakable DLP Supporter

    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2008
    Messages:
    713
    Location:
    São Paulo, Brazil
    That came from Small Favor, its the only explanation I remember from the books about how magic did work.

    I was sure this thread was closed... Wasn't it?
     
  9. Ryuugi Shi

    Ryuugi Shi Hierarch

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2007
    Messages:
    1,889
    Location:
    Glorious Bellerophan
    Yeah, something about a Mod not wanting this in his Dresden or something.
     
  10. Koalas

    Koalas First Year ~ Prestige ~ DLP Supporter

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2007
    Messages:
    46
    Location:
    Halifax
    High Score:
    2024
    Yep, good thing Vash straightened that guy's shit out.
     
Loading...